Track Only Car
Discussion
Hi All
did my 2nd ever day this year(novice)& I've got the bug to do more next year.
I'm weighing up whether to buy a car just for strictly for track days only or an every day "sporty"road to use for track days too. I'm leaning towards the track only as I do quite high mileage & I've a limited budget otherwise an Exige or GT3 would fit the bill.
It's a stupid question but how many tack days per year warrants a track only car?
Any hints or tips on what to look for when buying a road legal track prepped car?as I'm completley useless at car DIY. Presume I can get insurance for limited mileage to get to / from track & to cover theft also?
just wondered what is "normal" amongst regular trackday-er's? Seemed to be a broad mix on my novice days from trailered track only cars to modded scoobies etc & few standard hot hatches.
thanks
PN
did my 2nd ever day this year(novice)& I've got the bug to do more next year.
I'm weighing up whether to buy a car just for strictly for track days only or an every day "sporty"road to use for track days too. I'm leaning towards the track only as I do quite high mileage & I've a limited budget otherwise an Exige or GT3 would fit the bill.
It's a stupid question but how many tack days per year warrants a track only car?
Any hints or tips on what to look for when buying a road legal track prepped car?as I'm completley useless at car DIY. Presume I can get insurance for limited mileage to get to / from track & to cover theft also?
just wondered what is "normal" amongst regular trackday-er's? Seemed to be a broad mix on my novice days from trailered track only cars to modded scoobies etc & few standard hot hatches.
thanks
PN
porkanut said:
It's a stupid question but how many tack days per year warrants a track only car?
Not a stupid question at all - a very important one that many people overlook. Unfortunately, there's no straighforward answer as it depends very much on your personal circumstances, such as :-1) do you have a garage?
2) do you have a trailer?
2.1) secure storage for the trailer?
3) do you have a tow-car?
3.1) MPG's of tow car?
4) could you afford to write the track car off and throw it away?
5) where abouts in the country you are (distance & time taken to preferred venues)?
6) are you handy with spanners or will you be paying someone else to maintain the car?
7) will you be sharing the car with a friend or driving it solo exclusively?
All these answers will have an input in the final number but when i've done the maths on it myself, I worked out that you'd need be doing between 12 and 16 track days per year in your own track-only car (caterham) before it works out cheaper than renting one of ours.
cheers,
Jonny
BaT
Thanks chaps that does help
So I've narrowed it down to either:
an elise for tracking and weekend drives & a daily shed for commuting
or
a roadster (mx5 / MR2) for commuting which will still be an enjoyable everyday driver & seperate cheap-ish track car e.g. saxo
Roadster & track car looking favourite at the mo, more likely to get sign off from SWMBO & probably more cost effective leaving more money to spend on the actual track days plus the all important instruction
cheers
PN
So I've narrowed it down to either:
an elise for tracking and weekend drives & a daily shed for commuting
or
a roadster (mx5 / MR2) for commuting which will still be an enjoyable everyday driver & seperate cheap-ish track car e.g. saxo
Roadster & track car looking favourite at the mo, more likely to get sign off from SWMBO & probably more cost effective leaving more money to spend on the actual track days plus the all important instruction
cheers
PN
Elise and shed would be my choice. Getting something like a diesel mondeo as the shed. That way both cars are design for the intended use.
If you go mx5/mr2 then you may as well track it rather than buy a saxo. They would be more fun on track and cheaper overall than running a saxo as a second car. You could spend the cash saved on track insurance and a spare set of wheels and tyres.
If you go mx5/mr2 then you may as well track it rather than buy a saxo. They would be more fun on track and cheaper overall than running a saxo as a second car. You could spend the cash saved on track insurance and a spare set of wheels and tyres.
A track only car doesn't necessarily need to be that expensive if you don't need to trailer it. It's much more relaxing to know that if you do have a problem (and you will at some point 
) that you don't need the car on Monday morning, and it can sit in the garage until it's fixed.
1. Buy wisely - ideally a car that is already prepped, and you will have little or no depreciation
2. Even if you're not that handy with cars, there are plenty of simple jobs you can do yourself to keep costs down - servicing, brakes etc..
I've been running an old, road legal, Honda civic racecar for a year. Including all costs, fuel, insurance, road tax, my trackdays this year have cost me less than £400 each. It's comfortable enough to drive to tracks (we drove to Germany in it this year) but is noisy, intense and direct on the track, and pretty quick.
I never added up my costs in my last track car (944 turbo) as they would have been just too frightening!
) that you don't need the car on Monday morning, and it can sit in the garage until it's fixed.1. Buy wisely - ideally a car that is already prepped, and you will have little or no depreciation
2. Even if you're not that handy with cars, there are plenty of simple jobs you can do yourself to keep costs down - servicing, brakes etc..
I've been running an old, road legal, Honda civic racecar for a year. Including all costs, fuel, insurance, road tax, my trackdays this year have cost me less than £400 each. It's comfortable enough to drive to tracks (we drove to Germany in it this year) but is noisy, intense and direct on the track, and pretty quick.
I never added up my costs in my last track car (944 turbo) as they would have been just too frightening!
porkanut said:
It's a stupid question but how many tack days per year warrants a track only car?
A lot. But then the same argument goes for anyone spending more than a couple of grand on a road car for commuting, or having a supercar in their garage that they only do a few thousand mile per year in. It's a totally subjective question, I'm quite prepared to pay a huge amount to run a car that I only do a few track days a year with. Because I love it. In pure financial terms hiring is a complete no-brainer. It's zero hassle and though it looks expensive, the opposite is true vs buying and running your own car. In summary, hire one and see what you think, it's cheaper than doing it the other way around and you lose nothing.A track only car is a bit of a pain, can't quickly check stuff after working on the car or bed in those new pads on the road etc etc, long way to take to a track day & a little fault that you couldnt check without a road test causes you to miss the day, I have track only cars but they have MOTs, so can do on road tests etc, road tax for summer not much dosh or if you have the right insurance can borrow a trade plate for a test.
Also track only you can't go to 'ring on a public day, just expensive trackdays.
Don't agree with johnys rental calculations tho, with the right car choices its posible to come out of a seasons trackdaying for very very little.
Also track only you can't go to 'ring on a public day, just expensive trackdays.
Don't agree with johnys rental calculations tho, with the right car choices its posible to come out of a seasons trackdaying for very very little.
I've just finished 2 years of playing with a BMW325 compact (it's in the classifieds).
Good as an everyday hack, or turning up at a track and having fun for a day. As it's the compact, you can get a spare set of wheels and tyres in the boot. The every day wheels are then your 'wets' and a set of Pilot Sport Cups for when it's dry.
I've now got a big Jag to play with - which is slower, and a bit of a handful.
Good as an everyday hack, or turning up at a track and having fun for a day. As it's the compact, you can get a spare set of wheels and tyres in the boot. The every day wheels are then your 'wets' and a set of Pilot Sport Cups for when it's dry.
I've now got a big Jag to play with - which is slower, and a bit of a handful.
all the above is all well and good but BS tbh
main thing is to get a car you love to drive and feel happy to be in, otherwise trailer or raod it will be a waste of money
from my experience (and it is a personal thing) the more complicated you make trackdays the less you will do. Make it simple and they are easy and more fun.
Road cars amke it easy to drive there and drive back, have fun and visit some places
Trailers and tow vehicles make it a PITA and you might as well go racing
main thing is to get a car you love to drive and feel happy to be in, otherwise trailer or raod it will be a waste of money
from my experience (and it is a personal thing) the more complicated you make trackdays the less you will do. Make it simple and they are easy and more fun.
Road cars amke it easy to drive there and drive back, have fun and visit some places
Trailers and tow vehicles make it a PITA and you might as well go racing
shim said:
from my experience (and it is a personal thing) the more complicated you make trackdays the less you will do. Make it simple and they are easy and more fun.
Road cars amke it easy to drive there and drive back, have fun and visit some places
Trailers and tow vehicles make it a PITA and you might as well go racing
Got to agree with that. I had a CRX ex race car, and trailered it to tracks. Once, I forgot to check the car over beforehand, and I found the front brakes were shot, when I was changing to slicks. I unhitched the trailer, and used the tow car (Alfa 147) for the day. Road cars amke it easy to drive there and drive back, have fun and visit some places
Trailers and tow vehicles make it a PITA and you might as well go racing
All
thanks for the continued feedback most helpful.
As stated before Elise (or a VX) & a shed is looking the most suitable option
The liz should offer best of both worlds; track focused but can also drive to the the track, good fun on Euro tours & general blats in blighty on the rare occasion we get decent weather.
Being light it's not too heavy on jungle juice & discs pads etc which helps to keep costs managable. Also think it would be a good car for me to learn how to "drive properly" e.g. a walshy days & general instruction & LOT trackdays & events look good also
I can use the shed for the commute & battling through our lovely winters, maybe a a 4x4 the way things are at the moment!
Just got to get it past the better half, she is not keen on the liz due to lack
of crash protection & the palava getting in/out. A blat across the Alps in summer to the Italian lakes will convince her I reckon
All the best
PN
thanks for the continued feedback most helpful.
As stated before Elise (or a VX) & a shed is looking the most suitable option
The liz should offer best of both worlds; track focused but can also drive to the the track, good fun on Euro tours & general blats in blighty on the rare occasion we get decent weather.
Being light it's not too heavy on jungle juice & discs pads etc which helps to keep costs managable. Also think it would be a good car for me to learn how to "drive properly" e.g. a walshy days & general instruction & LOT trackdays & events look good also
I can use the shed for the commute & battling through our lovely winters, maybe a a 4x4 the way things are at the moment!
Just got to get it past the better half, she is not keen on the liz due to lack
of crash protection & the palava getting in/out. A blat across the Alps in summer to the Italian lakes will convince her I reckon
All the best
PN
I started off driving my Europa S on track and found that I liked trackdays so much that i bought a Pulsar for trackdays in the winter/wet as well.
(I didn't want to stuff my P&J into a wall on a wet day.)
LoT days are very, very good either here or in europe.
MSV days are good as are Motorsport Events (do a lot of airfield days) and are a nice group of people.
So be warned; trackdays are addictive and can be expensive but its brilliant fun
HTH
(I didn't want to stuff my P&J into a wall on a wet day.)
LoT days are very, very good either here or in europe.
MSV days are good as are Motorsport Events (do a lot of airfield days) and are a nice group of people.
So be warned; trackdays are addictive and can be expensive but its brilliant fun
HTH
I ran an E46 M3 as a track/daily car, and it was great at first, but as the track-bug bit I found myself making if more track focused, so crap on the road... coil-overs, race-pads, hard bushes, silly camber, buckets and harnesses... and after getting some slicks, was about to get a cage.
But after seeing someone total their p&j on track, it suddenly dawned on me that I was risking a loss of £25k+ for just 6 days a year.
So, the route I went down was to sell up, wait for a decent track-fettled E36 M3 to turn up, and my daily car is now a diesel X5; not too bad on the juice, super-comfy and effortless as it's an auto. Luckily there's a huge underground carpark where I live, and a trailer-hire firm round the corner (£50 per track day).
For reference, the X5 cost me less than £10k, and the M3 stands me at about £5,200 which I could afford to lose. Will be £6k with the half-cage.
Spec is:
—stock 3.0 standard motor
—Supersprint decat and rear box
—Bilstein PSS9 suspension
—E46 uprated rear top mounts.
—Front brakes: AP 4 pot calipers with brand new 330mm discs and Mintex 1155 pads
—Rear brakes: standard rear discs and Mintex 1155 pads
—Motul RB600 race fluid
—Braided clutch hose
—Uprated front bar with 325 drop links to the wishbones rather than the roll bar tied to the strut casing
—Full strut bracing front and rear
—GTR rear wing and front GT lower splitter elements
—Cobra Evolution bucket seats (just 1 fitted)
—Sabelt 4-point harnesses
—Snap-off dished steering wheel
—4 Black powder coated staggered BMW Motorsport road wheels with Bridgestone SO3 tyres
—4 Silver powder coated staggered BMW Motorsport wheels with Kumho V70s
—4 Silver square Motorsport replica wheels with Bridgestone SO3 tyres
With this to pull it places:
I've tried the fun car + smoker a few times and absolutely hated every moment I spent in my smoker — something to consider. I agree with the comment about not being able to run the M3 somewhere for say an alignment check, but by having it off the road I save £500 insurance, £40 MOT and £205 tax... the cost of hiring a trailer 15 times!
Also, as it's used exclusively for track days, I'm not wearing the tyres and brakes, risking a puncture, or any of the other potential issues that could arise from using it daily.
Unfortunately, due to setting up a business this year, I've not used it since June... but as it's securely parked away from the elements and only owes me a touch over £5k, that's no big issue.
But after seeing someone total their p&j on track, it suddenly dawned on me that I was risking a loss of £25k+ for just 6 days a year.
So, the route I went down was to sell up, wait for a decent track-fettled E36 M3 to turn up, and my daily car is now a diesel X5; not too bad on the juice, super-comfy and effortless as it's an auto. Luckily there's a huge underground carpark where I live, and a trailer-hire firm round the corner (£50 per track day).
For reference, the X5 cost me less than £10k, and the M3 stands me at about £5,200 which I could afford to lose. Will be £6k with the half-cage.
Spec is:
—stock 3.0 standard motor
—Supersprint decat and rear box
—Bilstein PSS9 suspension
—E46 uprated rear top mounts.
—Front brakes: AP 4 pot calipers with brand new 330mm discs and Mintex 1155 pads
—Rear brakes: standard rear discs and Mintex 1155 pads
—Motul RB600 race fluid
—Braided clutch hose
—Uprated front bar with 325 drop links to the wishbones rather than the roll bar tied to the strut casing
—Full strut bracing front and rear
—GTR rear wing and front GT lower splitter elements
—Cobra Evolution bucket seats (just 1 fitted)
—Sabelt 4-point harnesses
—Snap-off dished steering wheel
—4 Black powder coated staggered BMW Motorsport road wheels with Bridgestone SO3 tyres
—4 Silver powder coated staggered BMW Motorsport wheels with Kumho V70s
—4 Silver square Motorsport replica wheels with Bridgestone SO3 tyres
With this to pull it places:
I've tried the fun car + smoker a few times and absolutely hated every moment I spent in my smoker — something to consider. I agree with the comment about not being able to run the M3 somewhere for say an alignment check, but by having it off the road I save £500 insurance, £40 MOT and £205 tax... the cost of hiring a trailer 15 times!
Also, as it's used exclusively for track days, I'm not wearing the tyres and brakes, risking a puncture, or any of the other potential issues that could arise from using it daily.
Unfortunately, due to setting up a business this year, I've not used it since June... but as it's securely parked away from the elements and only owes me a touch over £5k, that's no big issue.
Windymiller said:
... M3 stands me at about £5,200 which I could afford to lose. Will be £6k with the half-cage.
Spec is:
—stock 3.0 standard motor
—Supersprint decat and rear box
—Bilstein PSS9 suspension
—E46 uprated rear top mounts.
—Front brakes: AP 4 pot calipers with brand new 330mm discs and Mintex 1155 pads
—Rear brakes: standard rear discs and Mintex 1155 pads
—Motul RB600 race fluid
—Braided clutch hose
—Uprated front bar with 325 drop links to the wishbones rather than the roll bar tied to the strut casing
—Full strut bracing front and rear
—GTR rear wing and front GT lower splitter elements
—Cobra Evolution bucket seats (just 1 fitted)
—Sabelt 4-point harnesses
—Snap-off dished steering wheel
—4 Black powder coated staggered BMW Motorsport road wheels with Bridgestone SO3 tyres
—4 Silver powder coated staggered BMW Motorsport wheels with Kumho V70s
—4 Silver square Motorsport replica wheels with Bridgestone SO3 tyres
All the above spec for £5k ?Spec is:
—stock 3.0 standard motor
—Supersprint decat and rear box
—Bilstein PSS9 suspension
—E46 uprated rear top mounts.
—Front brakes: AP 4 pot calipers with brand new 330mm discs and Mintex 1155 pads
—Rear brakes: standard rear discs and Mintex 1155 pads
—Motul RB600 race fluid
—Braided clutch hose
—Uprated front bar with 325 drop links to the wishbones rather than the roll bar tied to the strut casing
—Full strut bracing front and rear
—GTR rear wing and front GT lower splitter elements
—Cobra Evolution bucket seats (just 1 fitted)
—Sabelt 4-point harnesses
—Snap-off dished steering wheel
—4 Black powder coated staggered BMW Motorsport road wheels with Bridgestone SO3 tyres
—4 Silver powder coated staggered BMW Motorsport wheels with Kumho V70s
—4 Silver square Motorsport replica wheels with Bridgestone SO3 tyres
Nice position - to be thinking of a track only car
I'm lucky enough to have the same - my line up is Subaru Legacy as a daily barge - an Elise for weekend jaunts and holidays - and then the fun car - a Lotus 211. I'm not sure what your budget is - but if you are serious about having a track only car - the 211 would fit the bill, and then some.......
Enjoy - and if you buy a Lotus and do some LoT days do say hello - you'll find me doing the sign on at the UK events
I'm lucky enough to have the same - my line up is Subaru Legacy as a daily barge - an Elise for weekend jaunts and holidays - and then the fun car - a Lotus 211. I'm not sure what your budget is - but if you are serious about having a track only car - the 211 would fit the bill, and then some.......
Enjoy - and if you buy a Lotus and do some LoT days do say hello - you'll find me doing the sign on at the UK events
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